Re: Was I hacked?

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• In reply to: Patrick: "Was I hacked?"
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Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 21:20:41 -0700

In article <c53sss$2opcj7$1@ID-208448.news.uni-berlin.de>, me@privacy.net
says...

> I'm running ME on a PIII 1gig system with a router, dmz enabled as I run
> netmeeting, but am runing Zonealarm. I keep updates current. Was upgrading
> my motherboard when finishing up and trying to boot up got the following
> messages; Norton Antivirus was unable to start Email protection. Then
> Explorer has caused an error in <unknown> and will close. Then the same
> error in Magic (email filter program). Then the same error in Jscript.dll.
> Then windows hung with a blank screen. Ran NAV an Stinger no viruses.

> Restore only had one restore point which didn't work. Noticed also when
> coping my favorites ( safe mode) the folder containing links to antivirus
> and antiadware program sites was strangely missing.

> Tried to talk with Microsoft 866 PCSAFETY, but seeing there was no virus
> they brushed me off, but I'm thinking it might be a security issue.

Yes, you were hacked. I can even identify the hacker for you. Somebody
posting through news.uni-berlin.de, and using an email address of
<me@privacy.net>.

What you have described exactly fits the original meaning of the word,
"hacker". You have hacked your own system. This is not a bad thing,
providing you learn from the experience. Here is the gotcha to what you just
did; your new motherboard almost certainly has sufficient differences from
the one it replaced that the OS is now confused.

There may be a way to install the O.S. over itself when making this drastic
a hardware upgrade, or it may be better to just rebuild the O.S. completely.
I would be inclined toward the latter choice.

Oh, and you are now an official "hacker". Keep on learning; you'll whip that
computer into shape in no time!

-- 
Norman
~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint

• Previous message: Jeff Cochran: "Re: Return trip to newsgroup about earlier issue"
• In reply to: Patrick: "Was I hacked?"
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